Following a successful tournament last weekend where they went 5-1 and finished first, the baseball team (6-8) looks to carry their momentum in the Frisco Rough Rider Tournament this weekend with the beginning of district on the horizon.

“Us as a team making contact with the ball was big because when we put the ball in play good things happen,” sophomore Jacob Terwilliger said. “Right now we’re playing really good together as a team and finding gaps.”

The Leopards will be facing Frisco Centennial (4-2-7) as their first game of the tournament, a team head coach Jason Wilson once coached.

“I had a great run there and coached lots of really good players and I have lots of great memories, but now I am the coach at Lovejoy and they are just another team and ball game,” Wilson said. “They are our opponent and we will intend to play them hard and beat them.”

In their previous tournament, the baseball team managed to upset Jesuit (8-6), the reigning 6A Champions.

“You could definitely tell once we took the lead that our confidence was pretty high,” senior Matthew Almy said. “We carried that over to the next few games and we ended up winning the tournament.”

Last year the baseball team had a successful preseason, but then struggled in district (1-14). Almy said, with a more unified team, they will be stronger compared to last year.

“This year it’s a completely different story,” Almy said. “We have better leadership and not as much about people caring about personal stats. It’s all about team mentality, and district-wise I think we’ll be strong.”

The Leopards primary reason in entering the tournament is to prepare for district.

“All of these pre-season tournaments are for our players to get reps heading into district,” Wilson said. “Also to start fitting solid lineups together that give us our best chance to win in district.”

With new opponents for their district, Wilson says the team will face tough competition for the four playoff spots.

“Highland Park, Forney, Mesquite Poteet, and Wylie East have had success in the past and I expect them to field really competitive teams,” Wilson said. “However, I completely believe in our team and that if we play up to our potential that we can beat anyone in our district.”

The baseball team’s first district game is against Highland Park (7-6) on Tuesday Mar. 13, but with the confidence they have, they look to beat them.

“I remember playing them last year in the preseason,” Almy said. “It was a close game I have confidence in our guys, and defensively we’ve got to be sharp. Just take advantage of all the hits we have.”